St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge: Cedar Point Nature Trail, St. Marks, Florida

A relatively new nature trail at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, the Cedar Point Trail follows a dike between a salt marsh and a dredged boating channel to a wild location where the waves of the Gulf of Mexico hit a pristine shoreline. This hike occurred on Friday, January 1st, 2016. My plan was to hike five nature trails at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge on this day, as well as one of the primitive trails. This trail was my third stop of the day. Each trail just kept getting better - there are beautiful views to be seen from the Cedar Point Trail, despite its short length. My plan was to hike the trail out and back. 

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Summary

R/T Length of Trail: 0.7 Miles
Duration of Hike: 0:20 
Type of Hike: Out and Back 
Difficulty Rating: 1 out of 10 
Total Elevation Gain: Minimal 
Pros: Excellent views
Cons: None
Points of Interest: Cedar Point
Trail Blaze Color(s): None 
Best Season(s) to Hike: Year-round
Fees: As of 1/1/16, the fees for entry to the St. Marks Unit of the St. Marks NWR are $5 per car or motorcycle, and $1 per bicycle or pedestrian. There is also an annual pass that costs $25. Please note that entry to all other units of the St. Marks Unit (Panacea, Wakulla, and Aucilla Units) is free. 
Beginning Point: Cedar Point Trailhead
Directions: From Newport, FL: Take Lighthouse Road (County Road 59) southward from US Route 98 just east of the bridge over the St. Marks River. Please note that Lighthouse Road is a dead-end road that only serves the St. Marks Unit of St. Marks NWR. 3.3 miles from US 98, you will reach a fee booth upon entry into the St. Marks NWR. If there is no attendant here, continue straight. In another 0.3 miles, reach a fee station to the right of the road. Pay here. From the fee station, continue for another 6.3 miles on Lighthouse Road. Then, turn right onto a paved road that shortly reaches a large parking area. This is the boat ramp parking, as well as the parking for Lighthouse Levee Trail, described separately. Keep right here, curve around the beginning of the dredged boat channel, and park at the parking area on the opposite side of the channel from the boat ramp parking. The Cedar Point Trail starts here. 

Map

A map and some other information regarding this hike can be viewed here.

Details

As I stepped out of the car for this next stop, the conditions had not gotten any better. If anything, the wind only became stronger as I neared the Gulf of Mexico, and the cold raindrops were still falling without any sign of clearing. Unfortunately, I still got some photos with raindrops here. At least by the time I got to my next stop, the rain was finally over. 

The Cedar Point Trail is marked by a sign. As you start walking down the trail, note that you are following a dike with the boat channel to your left, and in the distance the St. Marks Lighthouse is visible. Soon, you reach several viewpoints to your right. Here, you will see salt marshes extending out to the Gulf of Mexico and the mouth of the St. Marks River. This is a very beautiful view and well worth a brief stop. Continue along the dike with the boat channel constantly in view. At 0.35 miles, reach Cedar Point at the end of the trail. This is the shoreline at the Gulf of Mexico. Great views extend out into the ocean. To the left, you can see the Lighthouse Levee. To the right, a pristine shoreline stretches far. Depending on the tide level, it may be possible to continue along a sort of beach on this shoreline to the mouth of the St. Marks River. From Cedar Point,retrace your steps along this scenic pathway to the trailhead, and get ready for your next stop on this day. 

Variations

None

Bonus Stops

There is a number of other nature trails, as well as two primitive trails, located on Lighthouse Road. These are all good to add on to the day you hike this trail. 

Pictures